This blog focuses on news and information regarding practice in the federal courts in the Eastern District of California, with a special emphasis on criminal and civil rights cases.

Blog Author

John Balazs is an attorney in Sacramento, California, specializing in criminal defense, including appeals, habeas corpus, pardons, expungements, and civil forfeiture actions. After graduating from UCLA Law School in 1989, he clerked for Judge Harry Pregerson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. John was an Assistant Federal Defender in Fresno and Sacramento from 1992-2001. He currently serves as an adjunct professor in clinical trial advocacy at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Please email EDCA items of interest to Balazslaw@gmail.com. Follow me on twitter @balazslaw.

Disclaimer

This blog is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog should be construed as legal advice. The law can change rapidly and information in this blog can become outdated. Do your own research or consult with an attorney.

April 10, 2014

EDCA Court Orders Cal Prisons To Continue To Reform Use Of Force Against Mentally Ill Inmates

[the EDCA court order is available at the court's website here and here]

Citing “horrific” videos of mentally ill inmates being pepper sprayed inside California prisons, a federal judge on Thursday ordered state officials to continue reforming how force is deployed against prisoners and limited the use of solitary confinement for such inmates.

The order by U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton cites the “overall significant progress” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has made in reforming its use of force policies, especially new limits on how and when pepper spray can be used against mentally ill inmates.

But, with mentally ill inmates comprising more than 28 percent of the roughly 120,000 prisoners in state facilities, Karlton said improvements must continue to be made, especially after the judge viewed six videos played in open court of inmates screaming in agony as guards pepper sprayed them for infractions such as refusing to come out of their cells.

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EDCA Court Orders Cal Prisons To Continue To Reform Use Of Force Against Mentally Ill Inmates

[the EDCA court order is available at the court's website here and here]

Citing “horrific” videos of mentally ill inmates being pepper sprayed inside California prisons, a federal judge on Thursday ordered state officials to continue reforming how force is deployed against prisoners and limited the use of solitary confinement for such inmates.

The order by U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton cites the “overall significant progress” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has made in reforming its use of force policies, especially new limits on how and when pepper spray can be used against mentally ill inmates.

But, with mentally ill inmates comprising more than 28 percent of the roughly 120,000 prisoners in state facilities, Karlton said improvements must continue to be made, especially after the judge viewed six videos played in open court of inmates screaming in agony as guards pepper sprayed them for infractions such as refusing to come out of their cells.